BIOL 101: L12

These flashcards cover key vocabulary terms related to the concepts of evolution, natural selection, and genetics from the lecture notes.

Evolution

The change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over successive generations.

Artificial Selection

The process by which humans breed organisms for particular traits.

Natural Selection

The process through which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.

Homologous Traits

Traits that are similar in structure but may serve different functions, indicating a common ancestry.

DNA Mutation

A permanent alteration in the DNA sequence that makes up a gene.

Geographic Relationships

Patterns of distribution of species based on geographical areas, reflecting evolutionary relationships.

Common Descent

The principle that all living things have a common ancestor from which they descended.

Species

Groups of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring.

Blind Spot

The point in the visual field where no photoreceptor cells exist, resulting in an area that cannot perceive light.

Testable Hypothesis

A hypothesis that can be supported or refuted through experiment or observation in scientific research.